Garden Inspired Health and Well-Being

Latkes are essentially small fried potato pancakes, and are an especially popular dish during Hanukkah. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah or not, these latke recipes are super easy to make and even easier to eat. They are quick to make and super budget friendly. Below are 3 variations of latke for you to make for your family and friends any time of the year.

The Traditional Latke

2-1/2 pounds of golden russet potatoes (this is the variety of potato you want to use for any latke recipe)

1 large yellow onion (diced)

2 large whole eggs (at room temperature)

1 cup Panko style breadcrumbs

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

oil for frying

*diced green onion for garnish (optional)

Peel the potatoes and then grate them finely using a hand held grater or a food processor with a grating option. Transfer the grated potatoes onto the center of a clean kitchen towel, roll up the towel and squeeze out any excess water from the potatoes.

Whisk the eggs in a large mixing bowl until well beaten. Add in the dried, grated potatoes along with diced onion, breadcrumbs and flour and stir until all ingredients are evenly coated and blended. Season with sea salt and black pepper to taste.

Heat a thin layer of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Shape the mixture into small (2-3 inch size) patties and press each one firmly to compact ingredients. Fry a few at a time in your skillet, cooking about 5-7 minutes or until the latke cakes are a nice golden brown. Only turn them once about 2/3’s of the way through cooking time. Transfer onto a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess oil and cover with foil to keep them warm while you finish frying the remaining latke cakes. Makes about 6-8 servings.

* Traditional latkes are typically served with a side of applesauce.

Cinnamon Apple Latkes with Honey Yogurt Sauce

Prepare the traditional latke recipe listed above and ADD the following ingredients to the mixture:

3 peeled and diced apples (any variety)

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 tablespoons packed brown sugar.

Cook the cinnamon apple latkes the same as you would traditional latkes and serve them with a side of plain Greek style yogurt mixed with 1-2 tablespoons of raw honey.

Spicy Garlic and Jalapeno Latkes

Prepare the traditional latke recipe listed above and ADD the following ingredients to the mixture:

3 fresh garlic cloves (finely minced)

1 whole jalapeno (seeded and finely diced)

4 heaping tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro

* fresh lime wedges and pico de gallo (to serve on the side)

Cook the spicy garlic and jalapeno latkes as you would the traditional latkes and serve them with fresh lime wedges and fresh pico de gallo on the side.

Latkes are a very versatile dish and once you’ve made them a few times, I encourage you to try and create different variations by adding different ingredients to the base traditional latke recipe. They can be served as a side dish, or in larger quantities for a main entree.